joy

Distinctions

simchah (שמחה)

Root ש-מ-ח. Malbim: the internal, continual gladness; its antonym is yagon, inner despondency. Vilna Gaon: the beginning of the process that leads to full elation, and in this world the more prominent, because a person first pursues simchah and only then reaches the goal that is sasson; and, against gilah, a new joy while still fresh.

sasson (ששון)

Root ש-ו-ש. Malbim: the outward expression of inner happiness, what a person does to show he is glad, festive clothes, music at a celebration; its antonyms are aveilus, mourning, the outward expression of sadness, and anachah, a sigh. Vilna Gaon: the realization of happiness, the end of the process; in the days of Mashiach the ecstasy will begin with sasson and open onto further simchah according to one's merits, which is why the pasuk of the redemption, ששון ושמחה ישיגו (the Gemara's proof-text; the article cites it as Shmuel I 14:45, though the words are Yeshayahu 35:10), puts sasson first, while Esther 8:16 puts simchah first; on his reading each is superior in its own context, which is why the order varies. The column's own resolution of the Gemara's contest (Sukkah 48b), on Malbim's terms, is that it seems both are right and the dispute reflects a chicken-and-egg: sometimes the inner feeling comes first and bursts outward, sometimes the outward celebration rouses the inner mood.

gilah (גילה)

Root ג-י-ל. Malbim: a stroke of fleeting happiness that does not continue, as against continual simchah. Vilna Gaon: a nostalgic joy that recalls the joys of the past, as against fresh simchah. Bereishis Rabbah 63:1 seems to understand gilah as specifically the joy of a man who fathers a son.

rinah (רינה)

Root ר-נ-ן. Machzor Vitry (Rabbi Simchah of Vitry, a talmid of Rashi): the joy that stirs the celebrant to sing Hashem's praises.

ditzah (דיצה) and chedvah (חדוה)

Roots ד-ו-ץ, ח-ד-ה. Many commentators: Aramaic forms of the word for joy. Their presence in the wedding berachah signals the all-inclusive joy wished on the couple.

Rendering guidance

• ששון ושמחה: "rejoicing and gladness" (or "joy and gladness"); שמחה וששון: "gladness and rejoicing." Keep the Hebrew order; the Gemara darshens it.
• The wedding berachah's list, ששון ושמחה... גילה רינה דיצה וחדוה: give each its own English (rejoicing, gladness, exultation, song, mirth, delight); a translator who writes "joy, joy, joy" has erased the berachah.
• Standalone שמחה: "joy" or "gladness." Avoid "happiness" in a sefer; it reads modern and flattens the inner/outer split.
• גיל / גילה standing alone: "exultation" or "a burst of joy"; beside שמחה, let it be the sharper, shorter word.
• Trap: English "joy" absorbs simchah, sasson, and gilah. "Rejoicing" (a doing) is the natural English for outward sasson, "gladness" or "joy" (a feeling) for inner simchah; hold that line when they meet.
• Trap: yagon is the antonym of simchah, not of sasson; aveilus, and anachah, "a sigh," are the antonyms of sasson (Malbim). A passage that opposes joy to mourning is speaking of outward joy.

Sources

Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein, "Subtleties of Simcha and Sasson," What's in a Word?, Ohr Somayach, 3 Tammuz 5776 (2016-07-09): raw text in sources/whats-in-a-word/raw/6839-subtleties-of-simcha-and-sasson.md. Primary loci the article cites: Sukkah 48b (the contest of Simchah and Sasson); Esther 8:16; the redemption pasuk ששון ושמחה ישיגו (given in the article as Shmuel I 14:45; it is Yeshayahu 35:10); Malbim's synonym notes on simchah, sasson, gilah and their antonyms; the Vilna Gaon on simchah and sasson; Bereishis Rabbah 63:1; Machzor Vitry on the wedding berachos.